“The ongoing violent conflict between Meter Taxi Operators and the E-Hailing Partners, which has put the lives of commuters at risk, must come to an end. The ANC Gauteng Province is deeply concerned at the escalation in acts of violence in the public transport sector and condemns such acts in the strongest possible terms.”
Several Uber and meter taxi vehicles were set alight in Sandton outside the Gautrain Station last night. “We call on the law enforcement authorities and the relevant state departments to take stern action to put an end to the continuing territorial battles,” the media statement reads.
“Furthermore, we call on the Meter Taxi Association and E-Hailing Services which includes Uber, Taxify and Zebracabs to place the safety of commuters above whatever disagreements they might have.
“Access to reliable and viable public transport remains the lifeblood of the Gauteng economy. The movement of people has a direct bearing on their access to economic opportunity and eventually their quality of life, as such we cannot afford to have protracted conflicts in the public transport sector.”
WATCH AND LISTEN: Uber vehicles petrol-bombed outside Sandton train station
Many continue to take to social media to voice their views of the incident:
#Uber vehicles set alight in #Sandton pic.twitter.com/lspDyoA2zr
— Rent 360 (@Rent_360) September 8, 2017
Public Order police have been dispatched to hotpots around #Sandton following last night's violence between meter taxis and #Uber drivers.
— Sibahle Motha 💕❤️🇿🇦 (@SibahleMo) September 8, 2017
On this very specific day, i declare #MeterTaxisMustFall
Enough is ENOUGH. #Sandton #Uber #MeterTaxis pic.twitter.com/gt34kJGBHl
— 100% Kongo Central (@ChrisMpululu) September 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/Sjijo_Mancape/status/906022018113343489
https://twitter.com/Belinda_Gass/status/906010785716903936
@MbalulaFikile please convince this government that this meter taxi driver are concomitant criminals it must withdraw their permits #Sandton
— #EFFTurns10 (@divhambelemaano) September 7, 2017
